Medal Of Honor #1 [1994] (Random Comics Theatre)

Random Comics Theatre

Medal Of Honor #1 [1994]

This is a series featuring short stories about Medal Of Honor recipients, all written by Doug Murray and drawn by a variety of artists. There was a one-shot MEDAL OF HONOR SPECIAL published by Dark Horse earlier in 1994, followed by this series. It's labelled as a five issue series, but it appears that only four were published. And I've only got the first two, a few years after they were published, and #3 has a story drawn by Bernie Mireault, which I definitely would have bought, so I'm guessing I never saw it, and Dark Horse didn't find a biographical war comic fertile publishing ground in 1994.

They certainly did give it a try, though, starting with the striking cover to this issue by Walter Simonson.  Other cover artists include Frank Miller, Arthur Adams, Joe Kubert and the aforementioned Mireault.

Two stories this issue. The first is "The Little Drummer Boy", drawn by John Garcia. It's a Civil War story about Julius Langbein, a 15-year-old who joins the Union army in 1861. Working as a drummer, he also helps gets injured soldiers off the field and to medical help, and eventually rescues his Captain and gets the commendation for that.

The second story is Honor Bound, drawn by Wayne VanSant, about WWII fighter pilot Richard Bong, flying in the Pacific Theatre. It starts with him getting his fifth downed enemy plane, making him an ace. He steadily racks up more victories, eventually passing the record of 26 set by Eddie Rickenbacker in the First World War and blowing past in on the way to 40. Eventually he's sent home, dying just before the end of the war while working as a test pilot.

I think the artwork in these two stories and the cover is really good, and the main reason to seek out the book. Very realistic and expressive, seems historically accurate as far as I can judge (though my level of expertise is that I know Civil War soldiers shouldn't have cellular phones).  The writing is just okay, nothing too special, sometimes seems to be taking liberties on assuming the feelings of the characters. I remember the other issues I read being a bit better.